Ask HN: How do you build a daily routine and stick to it?

I have several simple rules:

1. Track it - Google Sheets, apps, counters, etc.

2. Don’t make excuses - easier said than done. But really, only outlier reasons should trip you up.

3. You won’t go from 0-100 at once - Routines are sometimes set with expectation that something will be complete or expert or entirely satisfactory but time is also important. Your routine doesn’t need to be perfect!

4. Bonus - try to do things at the same time on whatever recurring interval you use. I go to the gym every morning within the same 10 minute window. If not, the chances of not going skyrockets (see 2)

Habits, is the number one way. Start small and build up. There is no way you'll be able to set up a long planed routine and stick with it.

Spend some time figuring out what you want and the break it down to small achievable bits. Do one at a time until it becomes a habit and build up. There is no magic. It's a long term project that will take years.

I knew of a guy that would take a walk every day, no matter the weather or his health. He would brag about the strength of his will power. But the reality was that it was a habit since he had been doing it for so long. The real test would have been his ability to stop since it's very hard to break a habit.

Indeed - in retrospect it should have been a !